America's Political Parties

Americans continue to express frustration, dismay and out-right hostility toward America's major political parties.  Some folks want no parties, just a congress or state legislature filled with those citizens who desire to be a public servant for a finite period of time.  Others want to impose term limits to keep new blood circulating and stop some members with tenure from abusing and misusing the system.  Most all express disdain for congress and the legislature, except for their representative; he or she is, well, okay!

If you study the United States Constitution there's not one word therein about political parties.  Nope, nothing, nada, zip.  So, how did they come about?  And when?  In the initial days of the new Republic under the Constitution of 1787, the president was elected by the Electoral College.  Each state had an Electoral Vote equivalent to the number of U S Senators and Congressmen.  Since there was no popular vote until 1828, the candidate with the most votes became president and the runner up vice-president.  Hence, in our first national election (1788) George Washington was elected president and John Adams vice-president.

Now scholars argue whether Washington had a political position.  Generally speaking, Washington and Adams were tilted toward the Federalist concept of government; that the power and authority of the federal government had more weight than the states.  As the new Republic grew the Washington Administration had two very powerful and contrary advocates within the Cabinet: Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson and Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton.  Jefferson spoke the language of the "common man" and generally speaking was tilted more toward state's rights.  Hamilton was an avowed Federalist.  These two titans fought often and bitterly, and as a result members of the Congress who agreed with them coalesced around a political party: the Federalist supporting Hamilton and the Anti-Federalist supporting Jefferson.

Since those nascent days, not much from a macro political perspective has changed.  The people continue to elect members from their 435 House Districts and two U S Senators.  And usually it's either a Democrat or a Republican, with very few exceptions.  Despite the hail of words from the candidates about how they will vote and approach bi-partisanship, all of this is forgotten on their first day in office.  What's that you say?  They don't get past their first day before going partisan?  Correct!  That's because the very first vote each member of the U S House and Pennsylvania House of Representative cast is for Speaker.  Both parties put up their leaders and the winner is elected along a party-line vote.  For you see, to get along, you need to "go along."

I can remember way back in the 1980s when my state House member decided to vote for the opposition party's Speaker candidate.  He liked that house member and his party was so far in the minority that his vote really didn't matter, or did it?  Well, it turns out that his vote did matter...to his peers.  He was stripped of his committee assignments, placed into an office with a member who smoked (this man didn't) and had to share a secretary.  Did he get the point?   You bet!

So, regardless of ideology, each Democrat House member voted for Nancy Pelosi and each Republican voted for John Boehner.  Well, you know who has the votes; it was Nancy in a landslide!  And, remember, the Speaker of the U S House and Pennsylvania House has broad and deep powers, first and foremost of which are appointing all the Standing Committee Chairs.  You cross the Speaker at your own political peril!

Can this system ever be undone?  Of course it can; nothing is forever.  But, it will take political will from a majority of members not on the extreme fringes to change the political dynamic.  And I just don't see that happening in my lifetime.